NEW YORK (KMOX) - Hostess announced today,  despite the help of a mediator, it failed to reach an agreement with the bakery workers union.

Hostess says it will go ahead with plans to liquidate and will have no further comment until a hearing at 11 A.M. Wednesday before a federal bankruptcy court in New York.

It now appears more than 18,000 jobs will be lost nationwide.

Other companies have expressed interest in bidding for parts of the Hostess brand.